"Meeting Martha in New York was a godsend angel to me. She was my pillar of life and inspiration full of positive thoughts and ideas. We took life as it came. (Being immigrants) it was a new experience every day and together made a wonderful life for fifty-six years. I will follow her to the stars."
      - From her loving husband, Chaitan

"You are my Guiding Light, my North Star, my Conscience and my Teacher. But most of all, you are my Mom, and I will forever be grateful to be your son. Any good within me is because of you and even though my heart hurts, I know that you have been called by a higher power, and that they need you now. Your generosity and you kindness can never be repaid, but I will do my best to honor your memory for the remainder of my days."
I love you mom, Me-
- From her son, Hans

"The best thing my mother gave me was life.  And what a life she gave me.  My mother's quiet dignity; that she carried about herself was one of the most beautiful displays of humanity that I have ever been a part of.  How lucky I was to be her son. 
My mother was a leader, a professional with an uncompromising work ethic, a devout Roman Catholic, humanitarian, environmentalist, an avid reader, BritBox addict, and a proud grandma. She was always thoughtful and a strong Latin woman.  I can not forget her love of Elvis, William Holden, and all the animals of the world.
I will miss my mother everyday of my life. But I am comforted in the fact that the many lives that my mother touched, live a life, like the life my mother gave me."                
- From her son, Ravi


"I was lucky to meet Martha, and even luckier to have her as my mother in law. We talked, emailed and visited often. She was my family, my friend and the best grandma to Jay. The first thing she always asked (even up to the last call we had) was, "how is Jay doing"? She loved him beyond words and although I miss her everyday, I'm thankful that Jay had 3 wonderful years with his grandma.  I love you Martha and will always keep your memory alive with Jay and all who knew you."
- From her Daughter in law, Nicole

For those who knew her well, you know Martha was one-of-a-kind, a gentle and kind-hearted person who loved life. Martha loved people and cherished the relationships she made. She was so friendly, welcoming and open minded.  She never passed a person without saying hello or sharing a smile. She always saw the good in people and the positive side of every situation. Martha’s nature was to always look for and find the goodness in people's heart. She treated people the way she wanted to be treated - with kindness and respect. She loved making friends, cultivating her friendships, and keeping in touch throughout the years with a visit, a phone call or with a note in the mail. 

Among her many loves were both nature and traveling. She had such an appreciation for nature - trees, plants, mountains - every part of nature. She donated to help the earth and was always doing her part to help our planet. Her green thumb was unmatched, she could take care of any plant or cactus. She was able to nurture and help any living plant thrive. That is a testament to who she was. She was loving and nurturing and helped everyone she knew. Martha and Chaitan loved exploring together. They loved discovering new places, seeing new things and of course, Martha loved meeting new people. Huell Howser (one of her favorites) was often an inspiration for new places to visit. Trips to Arizona to visit Ravi, San Fransisco trips to visit Hans and trips to Redondo Beach to visit Vic, Nicole and Jay were always on the list. 

Most of all, Martha deeply loved her family. She met her husband, Chaitan in New York in 1964 on the subway. That subway is where their love story began. They had three sons: Hans, Ravi and Vikram. On top of all of life’s goals, as a mother, Martha wanted her children to be happy. She was so proud of them and loved being a part of their lives. She would listen to stories about daily life and no matter the topic, you knew she was listening and would follow up with a thoughtful gift or article related the conversation. 

One of the most special qualities about Martha was her love of children. After she retired, she spent over 15 years translating for the school district, specifically for special needs children (where English wasn’t the primary language). She not only translated for them and helped them navigate to get the care they needed, she became a true friend and advocate for these children and families. She took a special interest in their lives and became close friends, attending family functions and celebrations. She gave her time and love to all the children she worked with. Apart from being an amazing mother to her three boys, it was no surprise that she would relish in her newest role as grandmother to Jay. She doted on him and loved him with all her heart. Together, they shared a special bond. Just like with her students, she was patient, loving, played the role of listener, teacher and caretaker. He brought her joy and happiness with just one look. They are so lucky to have had each other.